TNAG-0643-FCO40-791-Involvement-of-Hong-Kong-in-air-services-agreements-1977 — Page 74

GR 325

CONFIDENTAL

CYPHER CAT A

FM HONG KONG 080206Z

CONFIDENTIAL

discussed with for Hayward

(FED). Supports HK's

proposed

+RAED.

TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 1237 OF 8 DECEMBER 1977

INFO PEKING.

tion as do Dot

$

MY TELNO 1125: NON-SCHEDULED AIR SERVICES FROM CHINA.

12/12.

THE CHARTER FLIGHTS FOR FREIGHTING CRABS WERE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ON 17 NOVEMBER. IN THE END THE CHINESE USED ONLY FOUR OF THE SIX FLIGHTS REQUESTED. A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE

OPERATION FOLLOWS BY BAG.

2. THE CHINESE HAVE INDICATED BOTH TO THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION AND THE POLITICAL ADVISER THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ORGANISE FURTHER FLIGHTS FOR PERISHABLE FOODSTUFFS, INCLUDING SINKIANG MELONS, NO SPECIFIC REQUEST HAS YET BEEN

RECEIVED BUT WE MAY GET ONE AT ANY TIME.

3. WE SEE SOME ADVANTAGE IN AGREEING TO FURTHER FLIGHTS. THEY HELP TO CEMENT CHINESE INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY: AND THEY ARE A VISIBLE SIGN OF OUR PRESENT GOOD WORKING RELATIONS. FURTHERMORE WE WOULD SEE DISADVANTAGE IN DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THE CHINESE WHEN CHARTER FLIGHTS COME FREELY FROM ELSEWHERE. BUT

FOR REASONS OF AIR SAFETY, AND ALSO TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CHINESE AIRCRAFT BEING ON THE APRON AT THE SAME TIME AS THOSE FROM TAIWAN, WE WOULD WISH TO LIMIT ANY CHINESE FLIGHTS TO MORNINGS ONLY, EXCLUDING SATURDAYS (WHEN THERE IS A SCHEDULED FREIGHT SERVICE FROM TAIWAN).

4. YOU WILL WISH TO CONSIDER WHETHER ALLOWING FURTHER FLIGHTS WILL AFFECT FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS OVER AN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT (YOUR TELNO 775). OUR VIEW IS THAT, IF FURTHER FLIGHTS ARE

CONFIDENTAL

/AGREED,